Rigid 4X4 fence post form

ABSTRACT

The Rigid Polyethylene 4×4 Fence Post Form (Rigid Post Form) is a rigid sleeve with a bottom, designed to fit over the end of 4×4 wooden posts to allow for removal of a post after cementing in place. The Rigid Post Form is held in place with two stainless steel screws at the top of the sleeve. The Rigid Post Form also provides protection of wooden posts from wood rot below grade-level and damage from wood rot and lawn tools at grade-level. The Rigid Post Form is easy to install and is cost effective.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The Rigid 4×4 Fence Post Form (Rigid Post Form) is associated with decorative fencing using standard 4×4 treated or untreated wooden posts. The Rigid Post Form is placed over the end of a wooden post to be inserted into the ground as a permanent method to retrieve the post if it is damaged or the need arises to take the fence down temporarily. The bottom of the post sits in the Rigid Post Form above a centered one quarter-inch drain hole on four evenly spaced one eight-inch by one-inch risers. The Rigid Post Form is fastened to the post near the top with two stainless steel screws. Once the post is cemented in place it can be removed anytime from the Rigid Post Form by removing the stainless screws and lifting the post out. The Rigid Post Form also prevents contact of the wooden post with the cement used to hold it in place. This protects the post from wood rot. In addition, the Rigid Post Form is designed to allow water entering between the top of the form and the wooden post to drain by gravity out a hole in the bottom.

[0002] In an online search of the USPTO database no other patents were found similar to the Rigid Polyethylene 4×4 Fence Post Form. However, Pat. No. 4,646,489 describes a method to repair a fence post with a wood rotted bottom. Others patents were found that describe methods to protect posts from wood rot damage and damage from lawn tools. U.S. Pat. No. 4,386,762 describes a fence post with a concrete reinforcing rod projecting downward and cemented into to ground preventing the post form contacting soil moisture, thus preventing wood rot. U.S. Pat. No. 4,989,834 outlines a method to prevent wood rot where upward extending fence posts are maintained above grade by specially designed supports. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,098,351 a method of shrink-wrapping posts immediately above and below grade to prevent wood rot is described. U.S. Pat. No. 5,720,134 outlines the benefits of installing a post with a solid plastic base as a method to prevent wood rot. The above patented methods and designs for preventing various kinds of post damage all have their merits. However, none of these designs perform the function of the Rigid Post Form nor do they have the simplicity of use and low cost.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The Rigid Post Form is a rigid polyethylene sleeve with one closed end designed for installation over the bottom of 4×4 decorative wooden posts. Once installed the post can be easily removed from the Rigid Post Form to replace damaged posts or to take the fence down. The installation of the Rigid Post Form is a simple three-step process; slip it over the bottom of the post and install two stainless steel screws to hold in place. The advantages of the Rigid Post Form are: 1. It is more cost effective. 2. It is very simple to install. 3. If something happens to an installed post you can easily remove and re-install a new one. 4. It protects the post at grade-level from lawn tools such as weed-eaters etc. 5. It protects the post from wood rot at grade-level and below grade-level.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0004] 1. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention.

[0005] 2. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the invention.

[0006] 3. FIG. 3 is a section view of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The Rigid Post Form is a hard sleeve made of Polyethylene or other suitable material. A mold with the prescribed dimensions (FIG. 1) is filled with powered polyethylene resin, heated until liquefied and then cooled, thus forming a rigid seamless sleeve. The sleeve has one closed end and is designed to fit over the end of a 4×4 wooden post for easy post retrieval if required. The Rigid Post Form inserted over the end of the post is attached to the post by two stainless steel screws. The bottom of post rests on four equally spaced risers one eight-inch above a drain hole centered in the bottom of the sleeve. The Rigid Post Form prevents the post from contacting the cement used to hold it in place. Continuous contact of a wooden post with moisture-laden concrete with time causes the wood to rot. Water that may enter between the top of the sleeve and the post due to storms or watering will migrate by gravity to and out of the drain hole in the bottom of the sleeve.

[0008] Other patents have inventions that are designed to protect wooden posts from various kinds of damage above and below grade-level. However, The Rigid Post Form is the only one designed to provide an easy method of removing a post because of damage or to temporarily take the fence down. The Rigid Post Form also provides secondary benefits namely, protection from wood rot and damage at grade-level from lawn tools. The Rigid Post Form is very easy to install and is cost effective. 

We claim:
 1. A Rigid 4×4 Fence Post Form designed to install over the bottom end of any type of 4×4 wooden fence posts to facilitate removal and reinstallation of a post after inserting into the ground and cementing in place, comprising: a one-piece rectangular rigid sleeve with one open end (top) and one closed end (bottom), said top end consisting of two screw holes through the sleeve on opposite sides just below the top, said interior side of the bottom consisting of four evenly spaced diagonal risers around a centered drain hole through the bottom.
 2. The Rigid 4×4 Fence Post Form of claim 1, protects wooden fence posts from below grade-level and grade-level wood rot.
 3. The Rigid 4×4 Fence Post Form of claim 1, protects wooden posts at grade-level from lawn tool damage. 